Drysdale today announced the news on MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), and Legacy promoter Mick Maynard confirmed the scratch.

However, Maynard said the fight likely will be part of July’s Legacy Fighting 12 card.

Legacy Fighting Championship 11 takes place May 11 at Houston’s Arena Theater, and the main card airs on HDNet. Legacy 12 takes place July 13, also in Houston.

According to Dysdale, an injury has slowed his training camp for the fight, which is his first in MMA since June 2011. He didn’t want to discuss the nature of it.

“I can train, but I just can’t train the way I’ve wanted to,” said Drysdale, who said he’s operating at about 70 percent.

Drysdale is a multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion who made his pro
MMA debut in 2010. He since has posted three first-round submission
victories. Most recently, he choked out former UFC fighter Mike Nickels
in 64 seconds at an Armageddon Fighting Championships event in
Canada. In addition to his own career, Drysdale has been a central figure in the
training of notables such as Forrest Griffin, Martin Kampmann, Evan
Dunham and Frank Mir.

Villanueva recently saw a 5-1 streak spoiled by back-to-back
losses, including one to Larry Crowe at Legacy 8. With six knockouts in
eight career wins, he’ll likely put his striking skills up against Drysale’s
renowned ground game.

Maynard said Villanueva could get a different opponent for Legacy 11, though the Drysdale fight likely will remain intact for Legacy 12.

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